Car-coupling.



No. 655,755. Patnted Aug. l4, I900. J. F. BUGKHULTS.

CAB COUPLING.

(Application filed Mar. 31, 1900.)

(No Medal.)

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JOHN F. BUCKHOLTS, OF LOIS, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 655,755, dated August 14, 1900'. Application filed March 31,1900. Serial No. 11,030. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. BUOKHOLTS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lois, in the county of Berrien and State of Georgia, have invented a certain new and useful Car- Coupler, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the ac:

companying drawings.

This invention relates to car-couplers; and

one object in view is to provide a novel construction of coupler and operating devices therefor whereby cars may be automatically coupled without the necessity of the operator going between the cars.

The invention also contemplates uncoupling devices whereby the cars may be uncoupled by an operator standing at either side or on top of the car or inside of the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel form of coupling-link which will automatically center itself with respect to both draw-heads and which will not rattle or become accidentally disengaged from either of the draw-heads with which it is associated.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the course of the ensuing description.

The invention consists in a car-coupler and operating means therefor embodying certain novel features and details of construction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the drawings, and in corporated in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of one end of a car, showing the improved car-coupler applied thereto and the operating means used in connection therewith. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the same. 7 Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail sectional view of the rock-lever, operating-lever, and operating-rod. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective View of the forked end of the rock lever. Fig. 5 'is a plan view, partly in section, of the coupling-link. Fig. 6 is a detail side elevation of the link-engaging spring or dog.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate corresponding parts in all the fig ures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a draw-head having the usualflaring mouth 2 and provided with suitable reinforcinglianges. The draw-head is provided in its upper side with a slot or opening 3, which extends through the top of the draw-head.

Within said slot is arranged a link-engaging spring or dog 4:, one end of which is secured rigidlyto the drawhead near the advance end of the latter. The opposite or free end of the spring is adapted to play up and down through the opening 3 and is provided with a thickened extremity 5, which forms a terminal shoulder 6,'adapted to cooperate with and bear against the shoulder of an arrowheaded link which is employed to couple adjoining cars' together, the relation of the spring and link being clearly illustrated in Fig. 2.

The link comprises a shank portion 7 with enlarged arrow-headed ends 8, adapted to easily enter the flared open ends of the drawheads. Extending longitudinally of the link are centering-springs 9, which are bowed outwardly from the shank7 and have their extremities slidingly fitted in mortises 10 in the heads of the link, whereby provision is made forthecompression or flattening of the springs as the link is forced into adjacent draw-heads. The springs 9 are arranged on the upper and lower sides of the link, as well as at each side thereof,-and they not only serve to properly direct the link into the draw-head and into engagement with the spring or dog 4, but also to prevent rattling of the link and to maintain the link in proper relation to and engagement with the free end of the spring.

In order to provide for uncoupling the cars, a rock-lever 11 is mounted upon a fulcrum post or bracket 12, arranged at a suitable point above the draw-head, the fulcrum-point being intermediate the ends of the lever 11 and the outer arm of said lever being the shorter. interposed between the outer end of the lever 11 and the spring tis achain or other connection 13, the lower end of which connects with an eye 14L on the spring or dog 4. The rock-lever 11 extends through the end of the car to a point within the car, as shown in Fig. 2, where it may be easily operated. In connection with the rock-lever 11 I employ an operating-lever 15, which extends horizontally across the end of the car, as shown in Fig. 1, the ends of the lever 15 being with* in easy reach of an operator standing at either side of the train, sothat the cars may be uncoupled without going between them. The operating-lever 15 is notched or cut away centrally, as shown at 16, where it rests upon the upper rounded edge of the rock-lever, as shown in Fig. 3. The operating-lever 15 is also provided in its upper side with fulcrumseats 17, located on opposite sides of the center of the operating-lever and on opposite sides of the rock-lever at points equidistant from the lever. These fulcrum-seats 17 receive fulcrums 18 in the form of pins or studs projecting from the end of the car.

An operating-rod 19 extends from the top of the car downward through suitable guides 20 on the car, being provided at its upper end with a cross-head or handle 21 and at its lower end with a pin or bolt 22, forming a reduced shanlgwhich passes downward through a double flared opening 23 in the operatinglever and also through the rock-lever, beneath which it is secured by means of a nut 24 or equivalent fastening device. The projecting end of the rock-lever 11 is forked or bifurcated, as shown at 25, and a pin 26 extends across the fork and has its central portion depressed, as shown at 27, to receive the upper link or end of the connection 13, which is interposed between the rock-lever and spring or dog 4:.

By pressing downward upon the handle 21 an operator on top of a car may vibrate the rock-lever 11, so as to elevate the free end of the spring 4 and release the coupling-link. An attendant may also stand at either side of the train and by depressing the adjacent end of the operating-lever 15 vibrate the same upon one or the other of the fulcrums 18, the effect of which will be to vibrate the rocklever 11 and release the coupling-link. No matter which end of the operating-lever is depressed one of the fulcrums will remain in engagement with its seat 17, thus insuring the proper return of the operating-lever to its normal position of rest. The rock-lever 11, operating-lever 15, and operating-rod 19 are connected by the pin or bolt 22 and cannot therefore become disassociated. It will thus be seen that the cars may be uncoupled either from the top or from both sides or from Within either car, and it is not necessary for the operator to go between them. Furthermore, the relation between the coupling-link and link-engaging spring insures the link being held in proper. position to engage an adjoining draw-head, and when it enters the draw-head the springs serve to center the link and properly position it with respect to the link-engaging spring or dog. An ordinary coupling-pin 28 may be attached to the draw-head for use in connection with the ordinary open link when necessary.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a car-coupler, in combination, a drawhead, a link-en gagin g device carried thereby, a rock-lever extending longitudinally above the draw-head, an operating-lever extending across the end of the car, tw-o fulcru ms therefor located at points equidistant from the rock-lever, and an operating-rod extending from the top of the car downward to the operating-lever, the operating-lever being cut away to form a seat for the rock-lever, and the operating-rod, operating-lever and rocklever being coupled together, substantially as described.

2. In a car-coupler, an arrow-headed link, and centering-springs extending longitudinally from head to head thereof, and having both ends slidingly fitted to the heads of the link, substantially as described.

3. In a car-coupler, an arrow-headed link having the heads thereof mortised, in combination with centering-springs extending lon gitudinally of the link and slidingly fitted in the mortises in the heads thereof, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN F. BUCKHOLTS.

Witnesses:

P. H. ASKEW, J. D. LOVETTS. 

